MALLARDS HIT FLOOR AS SAINTS OPEN FIRE

CONAN BYRNE was on the double last night as St Patrick’s Athletic cruised into the semi-finals of the Setanta Sports Cup with a 5-0 win over Ballinamallard United. After winning the first leg in Fermanagh, Liam Buckley’s SSE Airtricity League champions were determined to finish the job and they did so in style with Byrne and Mark Quigley both netting a brace each. It was first-class stuff from the hosts as their slick passing continually cut open their Danske Bank Premiership opponents before Quigley’s low free-kick opened the scoring. Back for his second spell with the Inchicore club, Quigley pulled the strings in the bulk of the Saints’ attacks and scooped a delightful pass into Byrne (right), who answered the invitation by stroking home his second goal. Before that strike, Byrne had added to Quigley’s earlier goal when he converted a rebound from Ian Bermingham’s shot. Then secondhalf goals from Quigley and Daryl Kavanagh wrapped it up. Sligo Rovers also had a comfortable 3-0 victory as they dispatched Crusaders thanks to goals from Evan McMillan, Ross Gaynor, Liam Flatley and Danny North (two) at The Showgrounds. The Bit O’Red have started the new season in blistering fashion with 11 goals scored in three competitive games and having striker North back firing is a huge plus for the 2012 League of Ireland champions. Dundalk left it late to join their SSE Airtricity League compatriots in the final four as captain Stephen O’Donnell scored the all-important away goal in injury time to seal a 2-0 win over Coleraine. Stephen Kenny’s men had a huge task in trying to turn around a 3-2 aggregate scoreline, but Pat Hoban’s goal on 51 minutes gave them hope before O’Donnell’s last-gasp efforts made the difference. The last spot in the semi-finals should be reserved for Shamrock Rovers, who take on Glentoran next Monday night leading 5-1 on aggregate heading up to the Oval.